How to block phone ads on Android and iPhone

Are pop-ups ruining your mobile browsing experience? Block phone ads to make surfing the Web smoother than ever. 

You can eliminate phone ads by tweaking a few built-in settings on your Android and iPhone. No need to pay for third-party apps!

READ: How to disable pop-up blockers

This article will show you how to block phone ads on Android and iOS. Note that these instructions may change over time as the technology improves. 

How to stop pop-up ads on Android

Most use Google Chrome on Android, so this guide will focus on that browser. Block phone ads on Chrome with these instructions:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Tap the three-dots menu.
3. Then, choose Settings.
4. Tap Site Settings.
5. Open Pop-ups and redirects.
6. Next, flip the toggle to the left to block pop-ups and redirects.

Cybersecurity company AVG (Anti-Virus Guard) says you can control Android pop-ups and notifications from specific websites with these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Next, tap Apps.
3. Choose your favorite browser, such as Chrome.
4. Tap Permissions and then select Notifications.
5. Afterward, toggle off to block notification permission for the browser.

How to stop pop-up ads on iPhone

Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes recommends updating your iOS software to block phone ads. Your mobile device should update automatically, but you can do it manually.

Go to Settings, open General, and then select Software Update to trigger the firmware update.

You may also enable the pop-up blocker on Safari with these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Next, scroll down and tap Safari.
3. Toggle on the Block Pop-ups option.

Turn off personalized ads by opening Settings. Then, select Privacy & Security, tap Apple Advertising, and then toggle on Personalized Ads.

Next, prevent apps from tracking your activity to further block phone ads. Go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then hit Tracking. 

Prevent apps from following your activity and reduce the chances of seeing personalized ads. 

Some apps show ads depending on your location. These are called geo-targeted ads, and you can block them by opening the Settings.

Head to Privacy & Security and then open Location Services. Next, toggle off the switch for Location Services.